Saint Lucia

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A blurry but still sweet picture of
my eldest daughter dressed in her
Lucia clothing some years ago.

December 13th is Saint Lucia Day. It's celebrated widely in Scandinavia with children wearing long white shirts, tinsel and candles. Generally, the eldest girl in the barnehage (kindergarten) will be wearing a crown of candles. Not real candles, of course, but battery powered candles. Lussekatter, saffron buns with raisins, are passed out from baskets to be eaten.

Delicious lussekatter. 

As history has it, Saint Lucy was a girl who was a martyr. She would bring bread to persecuted Christians in Rome at night. To keep both hands free, she wore a crown of candles to light her way through the darkness. Lucy is a perfectly fitted name meaning light.

Comments

J. S. Vila said…
This comment has been removed by the author.
May 10, 2023 at 9:41 PM
J. S. Vila said…
Santa Lucía is a good party. In Mallorca there are living so much people from Sweden and this day they celebrate singing songs with candles.
May 10, 2023 at 9:47 PM
Alicia M said…
Saint Lucia Day sounds like a beautiful and meaningful celebration! I love how it combines tradition with a sense of warmth and community, especially with the children participating and enjoying the lussekatter. The story behind Saint Lucy is truly inspiring—her courage and dedication to helping others is a wonderful example of light in dark times. The use of battery-powered candles is a smart and safe touch, keeping the tradition alive while adapting to modern safety standards. Thanks for sharing this lovely tradition!

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September 6, 2024 at 1:29 AM
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